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Even de Guzman can't end TFC scoring drought

Canadian international Julian de Guzman made his much anticipated debut for the Toronto FC on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to knock his club out of its scoring slump.

Mon., Sept. 21, 2009

CARSON, CALIF.–Canadian international Julian de Guzman made his much anticipated debut for the Toronto FC on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to knock his club out of its scoring slump.

TFC fell 2-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy, who were led by a goal and an assist from English soccer star David Beckham.

Toronto (9-10-7) is tied with New England for fourth in the East with 34 points, two behind D.C. United for the eighth and final playoff berth. The top two teams in each conference and the clubs that have the next four highest point totals qualify for the playoffs.

The numbers for TFC have been dismal. It is winless in its last six road games, has won only one of its last five games and has scored only three times in the last month.

The club has four games left in the regular season, beginning in Chicago against the second-place Fire on Saturday night.

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Beckham scored in the ninth minute after a series of passes with Chris Birchall. Beckham received Birchall's second return pass on his left foot, dribbled and fired a 17-yard shot inside the left post.

The goal was Beckham's second in MLS play this year and third since returning from AC Milan in July. Beckham scored in the Galaxy's friendly against FC Barcelona on Aug. 1.

Beckham nearly scored again in the 43rd minute, but after running onto Eddie Lewis's left-wing cross, he banged a low 23-yard shot off the left post.

"I should have had three goals, to be honest, tonight," Beckham told the Los Angeles Times.

Toronto native de Guzman, the first Canadian to play in Spain's La Liga and Toronto's first designated player signing, played the full 90 minutes in his debut and almost scored in the 54th minute when his shot sailed over the crossbar.

TFC had a few other chances to get on the scoresheet. In the 31st minute, Ali Gerba took an eight-yard shot that ricocheted off goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' foot. In the 48th minute, Chad Barrett intercepted Stefani Migiloranzi's pass and sent the ball to Gerba, whose 13-yard shot hit the crossbar.

Buddle, making his first start since July 16, secured the Galaxy's three points in the 83rd minute. Beckham intercepted de Guzman's pass in Toronto's end and played a soft cross from the right flank into the penalty area to Landon Donovan, who found an unmarked Buddle seven yards from goal.

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